eBay problems, resolutions, shenanigans, questions and info (not bike finds)

I’ve had loads since March. In fact, just ended / relisted a few items this morning as I had another 70% of deal until Monday…

Bizarre, I contacted eBay and they just said they rotate the offer around different seller levels and groups so there’s not an influx of listings. Annoying I’ve waited 3 months and not been ‘selected’ - refuse to give eBay the full 12%

I bought some MTB forks listed as ‘new’ from a bike business on eBay and when they arrived they had a small scratch/imperfection in the finish.

They were significantly less than RRP but the seller has more in stock. I don’t really think it’s worth the hassle of asking for a return - is it petty to ask for small refund (I’m thinking 5-10%)

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Just ride them and add more scratches.

So if you read this description

Google stadia premiere edition controller - unopened.
Although the Stadia service is no longer offered by Google this controller can be connected to a phone or PC by Bluetooth or USB for use as a game controller
Only includes the controller, not the Chromecast Ultra.

Would you assume it included a Chromecast ...

Errrrrr. No

Indeed. So I was particularly surprised when the person who won the auction cancelled their winning bid because it didn't include a Chromecast.

I guess the charitable interpretation would be that the ‘unopened’ stadia bundle, would have had a controller + chromecast in it, and that they got bid happy in lieu of reading comprehension.

That is what they claimed. Would have just been nice if they had checked before the auction ended.

Also a bizarre one where I sold a Gameboy for £210 and the winning bidder sent me a message to ask if they could pay £180.

just charge them £50 postage

Weirdly they have now paid the full amount. I'm still pretty suspicious of this one though as it went for a fair bit more than I expected.

hmm. maybe take a bunch of decent photo's and do good packaging + tracked/insured postage to be on the safe side.
even if it means spending a bit extra it might help your case if it turns out to be a scam.

That's the plan. It went for more than expected so I'm fine to take a bit of a hit on the shipping for security.

So… bought a Hope stem advertised as 31.8 x 50mm, with the details also saying 31.8mm clamp. Turned up and it’s 35mm clamp, so no good to me. I informed the seller immediately then after a day of radio silence opened up for a return.
The seller then emailed to say they’d measured before the ad and sent a 31.8mm item, the inference somehow being that I’ve switched an item or something.
You have to wait a week to raise a case and the seller has got in before me, again, claiming he measured and sent a 31.8mm stem.
EBay now take 48h, but I can’t seem to present my side or any photos. Do I get a right of reply? Any thoughts how they side in these ‘he said, she said’ cases? And to check I’ve not made any fundamental errors, if this is the measurement, it’s 35mm?

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...looks like 31.8mm to me

Do you have a spare set of bars or 31.8mm seatpost to check

Seems silly I didn’t do that and take a photo for eBay… clear daylight.
Hopefully they’ll side with me.

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are those your pictures or theirs? because that caliper looks like it's measuring 31.8 to me.

You need to look at the '0' I think, not the edge.

In my experience they nearly always side with the buyer.

😂 the caliper is clearly reading 34.something which it would with the bolts all the way tightened.
Are you looking at the same picture?

Mine, I do see what you mean but the verniers read to the zero on the slider.

Well, eBay have been super rapid and I’m getting a refund. Thanks all, and I hope the incidental vernier discussion has been informative!

Isn’t it a fun coincidence that the offset means the end of the caliper butts at exactly 31.8mm though.. I wonder if the seller had the same calliper and just misread, rather than mis-sold.

Ah yeah, this is what you get for posting whilst in work meetings, you’ve been had.

Sold an old camera that I had sitting for years as spares and repair.

Said didn’t know if it was working as I didn’t have the type of battery it needed.

Person buys it and then a week later item is defective want to return at your cost

Honestly I hate eBay.